Under 2 hours from London Bridge, The Pig at Bridge is a great weekend stay. Check out my (unsponsored) review of this UK country hotel!
I'm always on the look out for country hotels within easy reach of London and The Pig at Bridge is definitely 1 of the easiest to get to.
It's a direct train to Canterbury from London Bridge (or St. Pancras) then a taxi or straight bus to Bridge/ The Pig. (When I was there, taking an Uber was about £3 cheaper than taking a taxi from the taxi stand.) (This is compared to other hotels, such as The Pig at New Forest or Boys Hall in Ashford, which are an easy train ride from London but which you need to cab to from the train station.)
Rooms
The room was so comfortable and there was even turn down service! The lady/ gentleman thoughtfully left a small light on so when you return, it's not to total darkness.
I must say one thing that made my stay at The Pig at Canterbury so special was that it was like a little hut- when you open the bedroom door, you don't see the inside of the house but you walk straight out onto country fields. (Of course this also means that if it rains, you'll get drenched walking in and out of your room but it was wort it to me. Plus there are always umbrellas around the place.)
There's also a small patio with lounge chairs outside the room which is a wonderful place to sit, relax, and read with a cup of coffee or tea. (The hotel also thoughtfully provides a selection of books and magazines to entertain you.)
I also liked how my room had a bath and shower. (It looks quaint but everything worked very well and there was a ton of space.)
The toiletries were great- for example, the moisturiser was very nourishing.
Things to Do
The grounds at The pig aren't huge (but they're larger than Boys Hall though with less flowers.) Part of it is a green field and part is the kitchen garden, shown above. I really enjoyed the tour of the kitchen garden- despite the fact that it was only my Mom & I, the tour still went ahead.
There's also a town (walking distance) which you can explore (More on this below.)
The hotel also has a spa for those who don't want to leave.
Food
One of my favorite things about the Pig at Bridge is the great food- SO MUCH better than the food at Boys Hall. I also love the local food ethos (a lot of the food comes from the hotel's kitchen garden, which you can take a (free) guided tour of.)
There is complimentary daily coffee and cake in the lounge in the afternoon. (The bakes on offer change every day.)
The only things I felt needed improving were:
- the furniture was badly in need of reupholstering (not very comfortable to sit on these sofas, unlike the ones at Boys Hall)
- the place was very busy so sitting in the lounge at the Pig doesn't feel as intimate or relaxing as it does at Boys Hall. For example, at Boys Hall, my Mom made friends with another guest, but I don't think this would be possible at The Pig.
Location
Another thing I love is that there's a small (actually tiny) town right outside the hotel. (You're also within easy reach of Canterbury- where you train in to- so you could also take the bus in if you're bored of the country.)
Don't expect many shops in the town of Bridge but there's a Londis convenience store and pharmacy for emergencies. (I needed some hay fever medicine and the pharmacist was very good.)
There's also a Michelin-starred restaurant which offers a very good value for money lunch set: about £35 for a 3-course meal. (So good, we ate there twice! Would be happy to return.) With the food at The Pig being excellent too, you're really spoilt for choice!
